Seeker, welcome! and thank you for sharing these wonderful rapiers!
It saddens me when 'one of ours' departs, and it is terrifying to think of what will become of ones treasured weapons when the time comes, and without family or provisions, the outcome could be terrible.
This man, as you note, was clearly brilliant and discerning as reflected by the weapons he collected, and I am so glad these people placed these weapons with you. You have wisely retained important examples, and you are doing well to seek out the detailed descriptions and assessments of them.
The photos you provide are clear and detailed, but it is easier to discuss each in separate groups of images of each sword independently, and with dimensions blade lengths, any markings (your views of what they appear to say etc. as in person is better than photos naturally...flashback etc. distorts a lot).
All three of these seem rapiers of first half 17th c. It is hard to put finite dates as forms often carried notably later than the set parameters due to tradition and personal preferences. Also there was notable diffusion of influence.
With the 'seven bar' hilt, often termed 'squelette' (Fr. =skeleton) these are typically Italian or Spanish, but the arms and armor of these countries overlap of course. The style with the bars are most commonly seven bars, but can be 4 or 6. (Norman, 1980, p,141, hilt 68; Valentine 1969, #16 ).
What is unusual with this example is that the style of decoration in the base of the guard with the face etc. to me resembles that of English hilts of early to mid 17th. Also in Norman ("Rapier and Small Sword 1400-1820", ) the pommel form seems to be close to pommels 60,62 which are English, Dutch early-mid 17th c).
It seems almost as if this is a Dutch or English version of these distinct hilts, which would not be surprising, especially if Dutch with the Spanish presence there in these times.
Re: 'running wolf', these blade marks are simply a commonly used device used by Solingen (nee Passau) on blades, and do not apply distinctively to any particular maker or for that matter location of production. There are many variations and possibilities re: blade markings.
Naturally speculation, but a fair starting point, and as always more research may offer more perspective.
The other two very nice as well, but the 'squelette' caught my eye!
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